The G90 M5 – and hotly anticipated G99 M5 Touring – are about to start out making waves as reviewers get their fingers on them. However for the car-buying public, getting one is likely to be a bit more durable. Its older brother, nonetheless – the F90 M5, produced from mannequin years 2018 till 2023 – is sort of simple to seek out. And, because of a nonetheless spectacular 600 or so horsepower, xDrive all-wheel drive, and speedy depreciation, it’s turning into fairly the efficiency cut price if you happen to’re searching for a used tremendous sedan. Throw in sensible – and exquisite – proportions and loads of top-tier facilities, and the F90 M5 is ideal if you happen to solely have room for one automotive in your life.
The Specs
All F90 M5 sedans get a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine below the hood – the S63B44T4. It’s essentially the most refined, potent, and most dependable iteration of the S63 V8 engine. Normal output is 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, and automobiles geared up with the Competitors Bundle developed 617 horsepower. It hardly issues which you select; thanks to plain M xDrive all-wheel drive, the OG M5 flew from zero to 60 mph in a Automotive and Driver examined 2.8 seconds. It went on to finish the quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds at 129 mph. That’s round as fast as a McLaren 720S, and half a second faster from a standstill to 60 than the BMW-quoted time for the brand new G90 M5.
The F90 M5 additionally arguably will get one of the best period of BMW iDrive, too. All fashions supplied Apple CarPlay compatibility, and all utilized iDrive 6 or iDrive 7 – the intuitive “tile” show that rapidly made BMW a frontrunner in in-car software program UI. Pre- or post-LCI (a mid-life-cycle refresh occurred for mannequin 12 months 2021), the F90 M5 had entry to all of the most interesting facilities, too; whether or not you want hands-free driving help or massaging seats, it’s out there on the F90 M5.
The Value
Because the educated purchaser, die-hard fanatic, or semi-professional window shopper you doubtless are, you most likely already knew a lot of the highlights the F90 M5 gives. What you may not understand is that you may choose up an early F90 M5 for round $52,000. And if you happen to don’t thoughts a automotive that’s had a crash or two, you may snag an F90 for lower than a base Dodge Durango. That’s an insane worth in a world the place the typical new automotive transaction worth hovers just below $50,000. There’s worth for consumers on the prime finish of the dimensions, too. Examples of the collectible and ultra-desirable M5 CS with a number of miles on them – round 20,000 – are buying and selling across the $135,o00 mark. That’s a bit increased than the $120,000-ish the G90 M5 instructions, however nonetheless shy of the automotive’s unique $145,000 unique MSRP.
The drawbacks of entering into this cruise missile of a luxurious sedan are the standard pitfalls of shopping for a used BMW M automotive. Components are costly, and there’s no scarcity of crappily-modified examples littering the net itemizing websites – particularly if you happen to’re trying to find a very whole lot. That mentioned: if you happen to can wrench, have the components hookup, and/or just know what you’re entering into, you’ll be arduous pressed to discover a higher efficiency cut price than the F90 M5. Oh, it’s additionally hardly what we might environment friendly; count on to replenish with high-test steadily, because the F90 M5 tops out at 21 miles per gallon on the freeway, in line with the EPA.
The F90 M5: Final One-Automotive Resolution
It’s actual simple to say one thing is a “efficiency cut price” – however within the F90’s case, it’s ludicrously simple to again up. Due to its turbocharged engine, it’s receptive to modifications and is definitely able to churning out 800+ horsepower. If, for some motive, the usual automotive isn’t sufficient. The automotive was the primary to supply switchable all-wheel and rear-wheel drive. In actual fact, the all-wheel drive even makes it an excellent candidate for every day driver obligation even if you happen to stay in a snow-prone locale. Throw in a usable trunk, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, and spectacular consolation, and also you’ve obtained the proper one-car answer.
The F90 M5 is a bit too heavy to be the proper canyon carver or observe weapon, and perhaps somewhat dated if you happen to want the most recent and biggest tech. Regardless of being a grasp of none, its compelling worth on the secondhand market – and with costs nonetheless falling over time – makes it excellent for fanatics that want a one-car answer with out feeling like they’re compromising. Maintain your eyes peeled as LCI costs begin to fall within the coming months and years – you may not discover a higher total automotive.
